Indian Horticulture Journal

  • Year: 2018
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue: 1

Agronomical, Physiological and Biochemical Characterization of Chinese Mulberry Cultivars under Cuban Tropical Conditions

  • Author:
  • P Rodríguez1, I Griñán2, Y Hernández3, Z N Cruz3, A Galindo4, A Ruiz5, M C Pérez3,5, Y Rodríguez3
  • Total Page Count: 6
  • Page Number: 25 to 30

1Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (Corpoica), Centro De Investigación Obonuco. Kilómetro 5, Vía Pasto-Obonuco, San Juan de Pasto, Nariño, Colombia

2Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche. Dpto. Producción Vegetal y Microbiología. Grupo de Investigación de Producción Vegetal y Tecnología. Ctra. de Beniel, km 3, 2. E-03312 Orihuela, Alicante, Spain

3Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Agrícolas (INCA), Ctra.de Tapaste, km 3.5. San José de Las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba

4Dept. of Water Engineering and Management, Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500, AE Enschede, The Netherlands

5Proyecto Nacional de Sericultura. Ctra. de Tapaste, km 3.5. San José de Las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out to analyse the response of three promising Chinese mulberry (Morus alba) cultivars under Cuban tropical conditions, paying special attention to biomass yield, the principal leaf biochemical characteristics and leaf mechanisms developed to confront water stress. The experiment was carried out in 2014 and 2015 near the city of La Habana (Cuba). The trees were own-rooted GuiSang You 62, Guandong 11 and GuiSang You 12 cultivars. High leaf and total biomass yield were obtained each year in the three cultivars, even though Guandong 11 and GuiSang You 12 cultivars showed a more constant production of both, and their leaf composition seemed to be more suitable for rearing silkworms and livestock fodder. The three mulberry cultivars exhibited an anisohydric physiology, exerting low stomatal control which permits a substantial decrease in leaf water potential. These plants were also able to develop active osmotic adjustment to confront water stress, thus maintaining leaf turgor.

Keywords

Anisohydric plants, Biomass production, Osmoregulation, Water relations, Leaf biochemical contents